Rajeev Chandrasekhar is a Member of Parliament in the Upper house of Indian parliament (Rajya Sabha). Rajeev represents Karnataka state and Bangalore Urban district.

Jun201328

People still plump for an economic environment that promises them opportunities and encourages enterprise

Amidst all the political churn underway presently, there is one truth - that the 2014 Parliamentary elections will one of the most important elections for India.

After two terms under a Congress led Government that has been racked by numerous evidence/instances of failures in governance, a badly managed and hence faltering economy and visible decline in governmental institutional performance/credibility – India’s vision of evolving into a developed nation seems to be at a cul-de-sac or crossroad, paused it seems looking for political intervention with vision.

Only the most thick-skinned amongst us will deny that Indians are seeking a change. A change in how we see our Government and politics. India’s youth demographic are also restless, increasingly voluble and are threatening to reject the political status quo of “political social engineering” - which is the political lingo for stitching up caste/ religious voting blocks based on a bedrock of political deal making and largesse, rather than any common political beliefs.

India is a developing nation; its goal ought to be to become a developed nation. However, there hasn’t been any real political debate or consensus on how to get there. The government has swamped us with an unrelenting marketing Kool-Aid of this pre-ordained economic superpower status - astride a huge, uncontrolled welfare state.

But for political parties jostling to occupy this space for change - the reality is this. Just being opposed to Congress will not get them the space. The clamor for change is more about the culture of Governance and Politics, and the reality is that any Party that lays out a convincing narrative of their approach to this need for change could catalyze the voters.

The opposition, BJP, has done very little to present an alternative vision - or at least one that addresses this desire for change amongst Indians.

Just as elected governments have a responsibility to govern well, there is cast upon the opposition the responsibility not just to oppose, but to present an alternative vision and approach. The BJP first won power in the late 1990s. Regrettably much of its time is expended in debates – internal and external – related to holdover issues from that period. The BJP has to ask itself whether the old shibboleths of secularism and communalism, and the various points of discussion and argument in the 1990s, still hold true. They fact is they don’t.

The BJP needs to be conscious of this. Indeed, the principal factors on the minds of voters are about governance and economic concerns. Of course these are reflected and represented differently for different people. Yet, all are dependent on the same equation of good governance and opportunity and want the narrative to be changed to one of enterprise, hope and access. If it is to be successful in the elections, it is important for the BJP to be on top of this debate. There is a realization among important sections of voters that a framework of runaway doles and welfare programmes, built on promises but hollow delivery mechanisms, can win short-term support, but is not sustainable in the long-term.

Far from hand-outs, most people would still plump for an economic environment that promised them opportunities, enabled and encouraged enterprise and provided reasonable opportunity for individuals to realise their dreams of a dignified life. Business seeks a change from extractive, rent-seeking rule or politically-connected crony capitalistic success, to one where a culture of healthy entrepreneurship blooms.

If the BJP or indeed any party or political alliance wants to be to be considered as a viable alternative, it has to build and articulate such a vision. It has to persuade in the coming year that it is alive to these hopes, aspirations and challenges, and has rock-solid and practicable ideas for making public administration more outcome-based.

Equally, if the Congress wants to relaunch itself with a new set of ideas that go to the core need for change and moving away from its letdowns over its last two terms, it could still be a viable alternate. A New Congress positioned as one that could deliver on the aspirations of change and enterprise. The recent Congress victory in Karnataka on a plank and promise of Good Governance shows that this New Congress option remains a difficult but viable one.

The bottom line is this - the political debates and indeed the narrative of the vision for Elections 2014 promises to be different. The bland secularism vs communalism debate steering the voter, promises to evolve into one where Governance, economy, enterprise, nationhood etc. will all enter the lexicon of those seeking votes.

This article appeared in The Hindustan Times on June 28, 2013

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One Response to “Ring out the Old, Ring in the Alternative”

True, Indians must think about a sound alternative .Your title itself advocates ‘Ring out the old and ring in the alternative’. Hence I feel when we look for an alternative it necessarily precludes the old one ,the one that is to be ringed out. Indeed it must be a change for the better and ‘outcome-based’ as put by you. The viable alternative party in Indian polity should shrewdly organise itself and live up to the hopes and aspirations of the people. Of course ,change has its enemies. Sagacious Indian voters should be on guard, while exercising their franchise in the 2014 elections. I feel a Gandhi quote would be most appropriate to end my comments
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”

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Quick Facts

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament & Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur, Member of Parliament - Rajya Sabha, Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, Youngest President of FICCI, Convenor – Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development (ABIDe) Task Force, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has made a distinguishing mark with every role he has donned.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar founded BPL Mobile and was one of the first investors in the early 90's to develop India's first and largest green field telecom infrastructure. BPL Mobile had invested and built a world-class telecom infrastructure in the metro of Mumbai and other circles and laid the foundation for the telecom revolution in India. Rajeev is widely recognized for his significant role in the development of the now successful telecom sector.
A chip engineer by training, way back in 80’s, Rajeev Chandrasekhar was a part of the team at Intel that built the first Pentium processors at Intel and was one of Intel’s fastest rising stars and became one of only three engineers who were CPU architects, working on the next generation of chips. Infact, every Intel 486 processor ever manufactured, contains Rajeev’s initials.

Successful Entrepreneur
Rajeev Chandrasekhar founded Jupiter Capital in 2005 with a vision to foray into businesses of tomorrow in emerging new markets of globalizing economy of India. Jupiter Capital venture companies are in domains that include transportation, logistics services, hospitality, technology and media partnering global players in all these verticals.
Started with an initial investment of USD 100 million in 2005, Jupiter Capital now has investments worth nearly USD 800 million and are expected to grow to over 1 Billion by 2011.

Public Service
Rajeev Chandrasekhar was elected to the Rajya Sabha in May 2006, as a Member of Parliament representing Bangalore. Rajeev focuses on Bengaluru and Karnataka; reforms in governance, policy making, institution building interventions and issues concerning national security.
A strong votary of good governance, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been vocal and articulate about the issues of reforms, governance and economy inside Parliament and in various public forums. Rajeev has been in forefront in the fight against corruption in the 2G Spectrum Scam and his continuous efforts to keep the heat on the issue and bring the perpetrators to book.

Visionary
Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the Convener of ABIDe Task Force appointed by the Karnataka Government for Better Bangalore and the author of PlanBengaluru2020, a comprehensive plan for development which has been praised by Planning Commission as a visionary document and the force behind drafting a Bill to ensure separate law for Bangalore. Media has applauded his contribution to Bangalore and considered one of the top influencers in Bangalore.

Philanthropy
Rajeev is also involved in coordinating private-public partnership efforts to build 1 lakh houses for the flood hit people in North Karnataka and has personally committed – through his Foundation - to build 1000 houses at a cost of over Rs. 10 crores. Rajeev is the Founder and Managing Trustee of RC Foundation which mainly focuses on programmes aimed at primary education for poor children and also the Founder and Principal Donor of Flags of Honour that offers financial assistance and supports families of martyrs.

Other Roles
Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the Chairman of the National Military Memorial Committee. Bangalore will become the first city to have India’s National Military Memorial, post Independence. Rajeev is also Chairman of Namma Bengaluru Foundation, a non-profit organization that is works with citizens of Bangalore to make the city a Better Bangalore and is also the Principal Donor of Flags of Honour Foundation - a platform and a bridge between the citizens who seek to help, and the martyr's families.
A quiet achiever, Rajeev Chandrasekhar success lies in his relentless pursuit of nation building ideas and his ability to bring together best of the brains – experts, committed individuals in government and private – and inspiring them to success.